System and Method for Desulfating a NOx Trap

ABSTRACT

In an apparatus having an internal combustion engine and a catalytic device for treating NO x  emissions from the internal combustion engine, a method of operating the engine comprising operating the engine for a first interval in such a manner as to store and reduce NO x  emissions in the catalytic device thereby accumulating stored sulfur in the catalytic device, and operating the engine for a second interval in such a manner as to remove a portion of the stored sulfur from the catalytic device and to leave a substantial portion of stored sulfur in the catalytic device.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Various mechanisms have been developed to reduce NO_(x) emissions fromlean-burning engines. One mechanism uses a catalyst known as a NO_(x)trap. The NO_(x) trap is a catalytic device typically positioneddownstream of another catalytic converter in an emissions system, and isconfigured to retain NO_(x) when the engine is running a lean air/fuelmixture for eventual reduction when the engine runs a more fuel richair/fuel mixture. A typical NO_(x) trap includes an alkali or alkalinemetal, such as potassium or barium, which adsorbs NO_(x) when the engineis running a lean air/fuel mixture. The engine can then be configured toperiodically run a richer air/fuel mixture to produce carbon monoxide,hydrogen gas and various hydrocarbons to reduce the NO_(x) in the trap,thus decreasing NO_(x) emissions and regenerating the trap.

The use of a NO_(x) trap can substantially reduce NO_(x) emissions froma lean-burning engine with either spark or compression ignition.However, NO_(x) traps are also susceptible to poisoning from sulfur infuels, which may adsorb to the NO_(x) adsorption sites in the form ofsulfate (SO₄ ²⁻) or other adsorbed or stored sulfur compounds. Storedsulfur may prevent NO_(x) from adsorbing to trap surfaces, therebyimpeding proper trap performance.

Various methods of desulfating NO_(x) traps may be used. In general,these methods involve heating the NO_(x) trap to a temperaturesufficient to allow the reduction of stored sulfur, and then producing arich exhaust to reduce it sulfur dioxide (SO₂) or hydrogen disulfide(H₂S). A rich/lean oscillation may be used during desulfation to helpreduce hydrogen disulfide emissions. However, heating the trap to thetemperatures used for desulfation and maintaining the elevatedtemperatures may cause the NO_(x) absorption material in the trap tocoarsen and degrade. This process may be referred to as thermal aging,and may degrade trap performance.

The inventors herein have realized that desulfation of a catalyticdevice may be more efficiently performed by operating the engine for afirst interval in such a manner as to store and reduce NO_(x) emissionsin the catalytic device, thereby accumulating stored SO_(x) in thecatalytic device, and operating the engine for a second interval in sucha manner as to remove a portion of the stored sulfur from the catalyticdevice while leaving a substantial portion of stored sulfur in thecatalytic device. Such a procedure may provide for good NO_(x) trapperformance while reducing thermal aging caused by desulfation, as therate of sulfur removal is highest during the initial portions of adesulfation process and decreases as the desulfation process progresses.Therefore, such a procedure may be used to remove sufficient sulfur forproper trap performance while reducing an amount of time the trap issubjected to potentially damaging desulfation temperatures.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of aninternal combustion engine.

FIG. 2 shows a graph representing a quantity of sulfur removed from aNO_(x) trap as a function of time and of initial trap sulfur loading.

FIG. 3 shows a graph representing a relative NO_(x) treatmentperformance of a NO_(x) trap as a function of a relative sulfuraccumulation in the trap.

FIG. 4 shows a flow diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a method fordesulfating a NO_(x) trap.

FIG. 5 shows a graph representing a relative sulfur accumulation in aNO_(x) trap as a function of relative time for two exemplary desulfationprocesses.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DEPICTED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of aninternal combustion engine 10. Engine 10 is depicted as a port-injectionspark-ignition gasoline engine. However, it will be appreciated that thesystems and methods disclosed herein may be used with any other suitableengine, including direct-injection engines, and compression ignitionengines including but not limited to diesel engines. Engine 10 typicallyincludes a plurality of cylinders, one of which is shown in FIG. 1, andis controlled by an electronic engine controller 12. Engine 10 includesa combustion chamber 14 and cylinder walls 16 with a piston 18positioned therein and connected to a crankshaft 20. Combustion chamber14 communicates with an intake manifold 22 and an exhaust manifold 24via a respective intake valve 26 and exhaust valve 28. An exhaust gasoxygen sensor 30 is coupled to exhaust manifold 24 of engine 10. Acatalyst 32, which can be a three-way for a gasoline vehicle, or anoxidation catalyst for a diesel engine, is connected to and receivesfeedgas from exhaust manifold 24, and a NO_(x) trap 34 is connected toand receives emissions from three-way catalyst 32.

For a gasoline engine, the intake manifold 22 communicates with athrottle body 42 via a throttle plate 44. Intake manifold 22 is alsoshown having a fuel injector 46 coupled thereto for delivering fuel inproportion to the pulse width of signal (fpw) from controller 12. Fuelis delivered to fuel injector 46 by a conventional fuel system (notshown) including a fuel tank, fuel pump, and fuel rail (not shown).Engine 10 further includes a conventional distributorless ignitionsystem 48 to provide an ignition spark to combustion chamber 14 via aspark plug 50 in response to controller 12. In the embodiment describedherein, controller 12 is a conventional microcomputer including: amicroprocessor unit 52, input/output ports 54, an electronic memory chip56, which may be electronically programmable memory, a random accessmemory 58, and a conventional data bus.

Controller 12 receives various signals from sensors coupled to engine10, in addition to those signals previously discussed, including:measurements of inducted mass air flow (MAF) from a mass air flow sensor60 coupled to throttle body 42; engine coolant temperature (ECT) from atemperature sensor 62 coupled to cooling jacket 64; a measurement ofmanifold pressure (MAP) from a manifold absolute pressure sensor 66coupled to intake manifold 22; a measurement of throttle position (TP)from a throttle position sensor 68 coupled to throttle plate 44; and aprofile ignition pickup signal (PIP) from a Hall effect sensor 70coupled to crankshaft 40 indicating an engine speed (N).

Exhaust gas is delivered to intake manifold 22 by a conventional EGRtube 72 communicating with exhaust manifold 24, EGR valve assembly 74,and EGR orifice 76. Alternatively, tube 72 could be an internally routedpassage in the engine that communicates between exhaust manifold 24 andintake manifold 22.

As described above, sulfur may accumulate over time in NO_(x) trap 34,binding to the NO_(x) absorption sites and thereby hindering trapperformance. Therefore, controller 12 may include instructions stored inmemory thereon and executable by processor 52 to periodically operatethe engine in such a manner as to remove adsorbed sulfur from NO_(x)adsorption sites. Typical desulfation processes involve first heatingthe NO_(x) trap, for example, by adjusting an air/fuel ratio to causeexothermic catalytic reactions in the trap, and then providing a richexhaust to the trap for the reduction of adsorbed SO_(x). A rich/leanoscillation during SO_(x) reduction may be used to help reduce hydrogensulfide production.

Due at least partly to the fuel cost of heating the NO_(x) trap todesulfation temperatures, conventional desulfation processes haveinvolved allowing sulfur to accumulate until a maximum level at whichthe NO_(x) trap performance is no longer satisfactory is reached, andthen trying to remove as much sulfur as possible during a desulfationprocess so that subsequent desulfation processes are delayed as much aspossible.

While such a scheme may improve the fuel economy of the vehicle, it alsomay contribute to the thermal aging of the NO_(x) trap. This is becausethe elevated temperatures used in operating and desulfating NO_(x) trap34, which may be on the order of 600-700 degrees Celsius, may cause acoarsening of the active materials within NO_(x) trap 34, and therebymay reduce the number of NO_(x) adsorption sites within NO_(x) trap 34.Excessive thermal aging may cause the performance of NO_(x) trap 34 todegrade.

The degree of thermal aging of a trap may be a function of the amount oftime the trap is subjected to desulfation temperatures. Therefore,removing sulfur at a higher rate may allow desulfation to be performedmore quickly, thereby helping to reduce the rate of thermal aging of thetrap.

Many parameters may affect the removal rate of sulfur from a NO_(x)trap. Examples include, but are not limited to, exhaust temperature,concentration of reductant(s) in the exhaust, and the level of sulfuraccumulated on the NO_(x) trap. In general, sulfur removal ratesincrease with increasing exhaust temperature, larger concentrations ofreductant, and higher levels of sulfur stored on the NO_(x) trap.

FIG. 2 shows a graph 200 demonstrating variation in a rate of removal ofsulfur from a NO_(x) trap as a function of an amount of sulfur stored inthe trap. In a series of experiments, a trap was loaded with sulfur for½ hour prior to the desulfation process represented by line 202; for 1hour prior to the desulfation process represented by line 204; and for1½ hours prior to the desulfation process represented by line 206. Thesame desulfation process, namely using the same temperatures and thesame reductant conditions, was started for each group of data at timezero. As can be seen from a comparison of the slopes of line 206compared to 204 and 202, sulfur is removed at a higher rate when higherquantities of sulfur are present, and sulfur removal slows as more andmore sulfur is removed from the trap. Furthermore, the time needed toremove half of the sulfur from the trap, which is indicated at 202′,204′ and 206′ for lines 202, 204 and 206 respectively, becomes shorterfor higher sulfur loadings. Thus, the greatest portion of sulfur may beremoved early in a desulfation process. The later portion of aconventional full desulfation processes may remove relatively littlesulfur for the amount of time spent at the desulfation temperature. Thissuggests that a desulfation process that terminates earlier thanconventional desulfation processes and that initiates desulfation at ahigher sulfur loading level may be employed to reduce the amount of timethe NO_(x) trap is exposed to elevated temperatures.

The early termination of a desulfation process may result in a largerquantity of residual sulfur being left in the trap than conventionalprocesses. However, some concentration of stored sulfur in NO_(x) trap34 may have little impact on the NO_(x) emissions treatment capabilitiesof NO_(x) trap 34. FIG. 3 shows a plot 300 of the relative NO_(x)performance level of an exemplary NO_(x) trap compared to a relativelevel of sulfur accumulation in the trap. The relative NO_(x)performance is a normalized NO_(x) conversion efficiency, and therelative sulfur level is a normalized stored sulfur concentration. Arelative NO_(x) performance level of one indicates the NO_(x) treatmentperformance of a sulfur-free trap. Line 302 illustrates the relationshipbetween NO_(x) trap performance and relative sulfur loading.

Generally, at the end of a typical desulfation period, the sulfuraccumulation level is below 0.25 and the NO_(x) performance is high, asindicated by the left side of line 302. From FIG. 3, it can be seen thatthe initial buildup of sulfur in the NO_(x) trap has little effect onthe NO_(x) treatment performance of the NO_(x) trap up to a certainthreshold. Upon reaching this threshold, which is around a relativesulfur accumulation level of 0.5-0.55 in FIG. 3, performance degradesmore rapidly, and eventually reaches a preselected minimum performancelevel at which desulfation is performed. Any suitable level may be usedas the minimum performance level. Examples include, but are not limitedto, relative NO_(x) performance levels of approximately 0.85-0.95, whichcorresponds to a relative sulfur accumulation of approximately 0.6, asindicated by arrow 304 in FIG. 3. Alternatively, minimum performancelevels either below or above this range may be used.

As mentioned above, conventional desulfation methods typically involvethe removal of as much sulfur as practicable during each desulfationevent. Removal of all stored sulfur is typically the goal ofconventional desulfation methods. However, as shown in FIG. 2, the rateof sulfur removal drops as the quantity of accumulated sulfur decreases.Therefore, referring again to FIG. 3, conventional desulfation methodsmay sometimes be terminated when a relative sulfur level ofapproximately 0.1-0.2 is reached, rather than going completely to zerostored sulfur. The term “substantially complete removal” may be usedherein to refer to that amount of sulfur removed via conventionaldesulfation processes that attempt to remove as much sulfur as possible,and may include those desulfation processes that leave behind relativesulfur levels of 0.1-0.2.

From FIG. 3, it can be seen that the additional NO_(x) performancegained by the removal of sulfur past a relative sulfur level ofapproximately 0.4 may be substantially less than the additional NO_(x)performance gained by reducing the relative sulfur levels fromapproximately 0.6 to approximately 0.4, as indicated by lines 304 and306 in FIG. 3. Furthermore, the greater relative amount of time spentreducing the sulfur level from approximately 0.4 to approximately0.1-0.2 may contribute more to trap aging than the time spent reducingthe relative sulfur level from approximately 0.6 to approximately 0.4.Therefore, good NO_(x) trap performance with a relative reduction inthermal aging may be achieved via a strategy wherein only a portion ofsulfur is removed during a desulfation process. The term “only aportion” of sulfur generally corresponds to a portion sufficient toreturn the trap performance to a performance level suitable forsatisfactory NO_(x) trap performance. Likewise, the term “substantialportion” may refer to an amount of stored sulfur remaining in the trapafter performing a desulfation process according to the presentdisclosure. In some embodiments, the trap performance level may bereturned to a level substantially similar to that of a substantiallysulfur-free trap. Examples of such performance levels include, but arenot limited to, NO_(x) performance levels of approximately 0.95-0.99,and/or relative sulfur levels of 0.35-0.5.

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a method 400 ofdesulfating NO_(x) trap 34 that may help to slow the thermal aging of aNO_(x) trap relative to conventional desulfation methods. Method 400first includes, at 402, operating engine 10 for a first interval in sucha manner as to cause NO_(x) trap 34 to store and reduce NO_(x)emissions. For example, the first interval of engine operation may be alean-burning period configured to provide good fuel economy. During thisfirst period of operation, sulfur may collect in NO_(x) trap 34.Therefore, method 400 next includes, at 404, operating engine 10 for asecond interval in such a manner as to remove stored sulfur from NO_(x)trap 34, wherein the second interval is of a duration to remove aportion of the stored sulfur from NO_(x) trap 34 and to leave asubstantial amount of sulfur in the trap. The portion of sulfur removedis generally sufficient to return the NO_(x) trap performance to asuitable level for proper emissions control. In some embodiments, therelative performance level may be returned to a level substantiallysimilar to that of a substantially sulfur-free trap. For example, aportion of sulfur may be removed that is sufficient to return therelative NO_(x) performance to a relative value of 0.95-0.99. Method 400may allow NO_(x) trap 34 to be exposed to desulfation temperatures for asmaller fractional portion of an operating interval than conventionalNO_(x) trap desulfation processes, even where method 400 is repeated ata more frequent interval than a conventional method. Furthermore, asdescribed above, the partial removal of sulfur from the NO_(x) trap maynot affect the performance of the NO_(x) to a detrimental extent.

Method 400 utilizes the NO_(x) trap performance and sulfur removalproperties illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 to maintain an adequate level ofNO_(x) trap performance while subjecting the NO_(x) trap to detrimentaldesulfation temperatures for a lesser duration than conventionaldesulfation temperatures. For example, by removing only a portion ofstored sulfur from NO_(x) trap 34, method 400 may take advantage of thehigher sulfur removal rates that occur at higher sulfur loadings and atthe same time may help to avoid subjecting NO_(x) trap 34 to theelevated desulfation temperatures for the durations used in conventionaldesulfation processes. Method 400 may be configured to operate in theregion of those relative sulfur accumulation levels that are justbeginning to cause a steeper decrease in the relative NO_(x) performanceof the trap, thereby maintaining good NO_(x) trap performance whileachieving higher rates of sulfur removal.

FIG. 5 shows a plot 500 of relative sulfur accumulation levels as afunction of time for an exemplary implementation of this method 504 andfor a conventional desulfation process 502. A relative accumulation ofsulfur of 0.6 is used as an exemplary threshold level for triggering adesulfation process for each depicted process, and a relative time of 1indicates the time (or any other suitable interval, such as enginecycles) that passes between the conclusion of a conventional desulfationevent and the beginning of a subsequent conventional desulfation event.The desulfation process shown by line 504 is performed four full timesduring the single sulfation/desulfation cycle shown by line 502. Thetotal time required for the single desulfation event shown in 502 isapproximately 0.08 relative time units, wherein the total time requiredfor the four desulfation events of 504 is 0.032 relative time units(0.008 relative time units for each event). Therefore, even thoughdesulfation is performed more frequently in the exemplary implementationof method 504 than in the conventional desulfation method 502, the totalexposure time to the high temperature level is reduced almost by afactor of 2 for the implementation of method 504. This reduction inexposure time to high temperatures may greatly increase the lifetime ofthe NO_(x) trap.

Even though the time at high temperature is less for process 504 thanprocess 502, the fuel economy penalty for the more frequent desulfationprocesses may be greater due to the heat required to raise the NO_(x)trap temperature for the three additional desulfations. Any increasedfuel penalty can be balanced with the desired increase in the activityof the NO_(x) trap to determine an appropriate interval at which toperform desulfation processes. While the embodiment depicted at 504 inFIG. 5 performs four desulfation events in a shorter interval than theconventional desulfation process shown at 502, it will be appreciatedthat a desulfation method according to the present disclosure mayinvolve performing either more or fewer desulfation events than the fourshown in FIG. 5. For example, two or three desulfation events maybeperformed during this interval, or alternatively five or more may beperformed.

Furthermore, the intervals between desulfation events and the intervalsdefining the duration of the desulfation events may have any suitablelength. For example, either or both intervals may be of fixed length.Alternatively, either or both intervals may be based upon a diagnosticmeasurement of NO_(x) trap performance, a measurement or estimate of thesulfur loading of the NO_(x) trap, etc. Where the intervals are of fixedlength, the length of the intervals may be adjusted over time tocompensate for thermal and/or chemical aging of the NO_(x) trap.

The embodiments of systems and methods disclosed herein for desulfatinga NO_(x) trap are exemplary in nature, and these specific embodimentsare not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerousvariations are possible. The subject matter of the present disclosureincludes all novel and non-obvious combinations and subcombinations ofthe various systems and methods for desulfating a NO_(x) trap, and otherfeatures, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. The followingclaims particularly point out certain combinations and subcombinationsregarded as novel and nonobvious. These claims may refer to “an” elementor “a first” element or the equivalent thereof. Such claims should beunderstood to include incorporation of one or more such elements,neither requiring nor excluding two or more such elements. Othercombinations and subcombinations of the various features, functions,elements, and/or properties disclosed herein may be claimed throughamendment of the present claims or through presentation of new claims inthis or a related application. Such claims, whether broader, narrower,equal, or different in scope to the original claims, also are regardedas included within the subject matter of the present disclosure.

1. In an apparatus having an internal combustion engine and a catalyticdevice for treating NO_(x) emissions from the internal combustionengine, a method of operating the engine, comprising; accumulatingsulfur in the catalytic device for a first interval by operating theengine in such a manner as to store and reduce NO_(x) emissions in thecatalytic device during the first interval; ending the first Intervalwhen a first measure of sulfur is accumulated in the catalytic device;desulfating the catalytic device for a second interval by operating theengine in such a manner as to remove a portion of sulfur from thecatalytic device during the second interval, wherein sulfur is removedat a higher rate during the second interval than during an interval usedto fully desulfate the catalytic device via a single desulfationprocess; and, ending the second interval when a second measure of sulfurremains In the catalytic device, wherein the second measure correspondsto a substantial portion of sulfur remaining in the catalytic device. 2.The method of claim 1, further comprising periodically operating theengine for the first interval and the second interval, wherein eachsecond interval ends when the second measure of sulfur remains in thecatalytic device.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first measurecorresponds to a predetermined performance threshold for the catalyticdevice to store and reduce NO_(x) emissions.
 4. The method of claim 3,wherein the predetermined performance threshold is a relative NO_(x)conversion efficiency threshold of between approximately 0.854-0.95 5.The method of claim 1, wherein the second measure corresponds to apredetermined threshold of sulfur loading of the catalytic device. 6.The method of claim 5, wherein the predetermined threshold of sulfurloading corresponds to a relative sulfur accumulation level ofapproximately 0.3-0.5.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the secondinterval has a predetermined length.
 8. The method of claim 1, whereinthe second interval is a predetermined number of engine cycles.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the engine is a spark ignition engine. 10.The method of claim 1, wherein the engine is a compression Ignitionengine. 11-15. (canceled)
 16. An apparatus, comprising: an Internalcombustion engine; a catalytic device for treating NO_(x) emissions fromthe engine; and a controller for controlling the engine, wherein thecontroller comprises a processor and a memory, the memory comprisinginstructions executable by the processor to accumulate sulfur in thecatalytic device for a first interval by operating the engine in such amanner as to store and reduce NOx emissions in the catalytic deviceduring the first Interval, to end the first interval when a firstmeasure of sulfur is accumulated in the catalytic device, wherein thefirst measure of sulfur corresponds to a higher sulfur loading, todesulfate sulfur in the catalytic device for a second interval byoperating the engine in such a manner as to remove sulfur from thecatalytic device during the second Interval, wherein sulfur is removedat a higher rate during the second Interval than during an Interval usedto fully desulfate the catalytic device via a single desulfationprocess, and to end the second interval when a second measure of sulfurremains in the catalytic device Wherein the second measure correspondsto a substantial portion of sulfur remaining in the catalytic device.17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the memory further comprisesinstructions executable by the controller to periodically operate theengine for the first interval and the second interval, wherein eachsecond interval ends when the second measure of sulfur remains in thecatalytic device.
 18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the firstmeasure corresponds to a predetermined performance threshold for thecatalytic device to store and reduce NOx emissions.
 19. The apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein the second measure corresponds to a predeterminedthreshold of sulfur loading of the catalytic device.
 20. The apparatusof claim 19, wherein the predetermined threshold of loading correspondsto a relative sulfur accumulation level of 0.3-0.5.
 21. The apparatus ofclaim 16, wherein the second interval has a predetermined length. 22.The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the second interval is apredetermined number of engine cycles.
 23. A method of operating anInternal combustion engine having a catalytic device for treating NO_(x)emissions from the internal combustion engine, comprising: accumulatingsulfur in the catalytic device by operating the engine in such a manneras to store and reduce NO_(x) emissions in the catalytic device andsubsequently desulfating the catalytic device by operating the engine insuch a manner as to remove a portion of sulfur from the catalytic devicesuch that a substantial portion of sulfur remains in the catalyst deviceupon termination of desulfation, where sulfur is removed at a higherrate during the desulfating such that a substantial portion of sulfurremains in the catalyst device upon termination of desulfation, andwhere the desulfation occurs over a range of sulfur levels stored in thecatalyst device, the range spanning only higher levels of sulfurstorage; and repeatedly performing the desulfation to remove sulfur moreoften at higher sulfur storage levels than lower sulfur storage levels.24. The method of claim 23, wherein the range of sulfur levelscorresponds to a range of relative sulfur accumulation levels betweenapproximately 0.4 to 0.7.